Wed, 26 June, 2024
TWI Section Manager for NDT Research and Technology, Nathan Hartley and Software Consultant Mark Sutcliffe are due to participate in Aerospace Testing International’s (ATi) Non-Destructive Testing Week 2024.
The webinar will demonstrate how the use of state of the art robotics and advanced NDT software can bring significant efficiencies and improvements in accuracy and resolution, as well as reducing analysis times for the non-destructive testing of large scale, complex geometry components.
The unique software, developed by TWI and used by a number of Tier 1 aerospace suppliers, allows users to visualise inspection data in 3D and in the context of the component CAD model, providing a lifetime digital record of the asset.
Nathan and Mark will explain how robotics can deliver significant efficiency gains when used for NDT, detail the process of path planning for simple and complex geometries, explain how to handle large data files, reveal the benefits of 3D visualisation and analysis, and speak on the role of collaborative robots for inspecting large structures.
The webinar is due to take place on 10 July as part of ATi’s ‘Supplier Day’ and will also include a Q&A with Aerospace Testing International’s Editor, Ben Sampson, and viewers will be encouraged to submit questions for Nathan and Mark during the webinar.
Based at the TWI Technology Centre Wales, Nathan is an experienced Chartered Engineer and manager who joined TWI in 2018, since when he has managed a number of complex and high value engineering and research projects, with a particular focus on the automated inspection of composite materials and the development of novel NDT techniques. He recently introduced multi-frequency microwave inspection to TWI’s capabilities and has been instrumental in the integration and use of mobile and collaborative robots. Nathan has also overseen the development of a novel, automated acoustic inspection method for the inspection of highly attenuated composite structures.
Mark is a consultant and Chartered Engineer specialising in NDT software development. Having joined TWI in 2011, he has delivered a number of PhD research programmes and software solutions, particularly in the area of advanced ultrasonic methods with robotic integration. With over 30 years’ industrial experience and 30 journal and conference publications, he has been instrumental in the development of the TWI Crystal Software development kit – a solution that allows for the integration of a wide range of NDT methods, NDT hardware and robotic systems.